Lawmakers inched closer to enacting a budget on a dizzying Fourth of July — with the Illinois Senate in rapid succession approving spending and revenue bills and then overriding Gov. Bruce Rauner’s immediate vetoes of the budget package.

But it remained unclear when the state will finalize a budget to begin to unwind a fiscal mess that has left a $14.7 billion backlog of unpaid bills, with social service agencies and public universities left high and dry. The Illinois House didn’t have enough members in town to vote to override, with attendance issues also likely on Wednesday.

Speaker Michael J. Madigan issued the following statement Tuesday:

“I’m disappointed that Leader Durkin has chosen not to attend our leaders meeting for the second day in a row. Democrats are committed to working with Republicans to find common ground on the remaining non-budget issues that have long been prioritized by the other side of the aisle, but we can only do so if Republicans are willing to negotiate with us. It is my hope that Leader Durkin will return to the table to discuss the issues that he and Governor Rauner have insisted by considered alongside the state budget.”

The plan is for the Illinois House to vote to override the Governor’s vetoes Wednesday.

For his part, Rauner has been personally “out of the public eye,” but, like President Trump, has taken to social media to express his views.

If that doesn’t give you pause as to how warped this crisis has become, just let that sink in a while longer.

Related Articles

University Park, IL. –(ENEWSPF)–March 4, 2016. Governors State University reaffirmed its commitment to providing an affordable and accessible high-quality education for its students by freezing tuition and renewing its pledge to front funds for Monetary READ MORE

Springfield –(ENEWSPF)–February 17, 2016. The following is a statement from John Bouman, Chair of the Responsible Budget Coalition (RBC) Executive Committee, and President of the Shriver Center, on behalf of the RBC: In the READ MORE

Springfield, IL-(ENEWSPF)- Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin continued clarifying priorities of the House Republicans. The state faces another alarming lack-of-budget deadline with July only two days away. With no budget in place, the credit READ MORE